Good morning All. Coffees on.

[Jamie68]

I might have found some place to get electrolysis done. Karen's in Woodridge Illinois. Their website even says transgender friendly. Not open till tomorrow. I can't wait to call. Will be going to Univ. of Iowa clinic with wife for checkup for a couple days. No visitors allowed with patients. Will have plenty of time to make calls. Please cross your fingers for me girls.

 

Jamie

[Audrey]

3 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

Of course, delicious vegan food is the best way to convert carnivores.  You don't even tell them it's vegan until they compliment you on how good it was.  Bwah-ha-ha!

I've done this before with my black bean chili recipe. Confirmed carnivores were sure I'd put meat in it, but they know I've been vegetarian for years so I wasn't fooling anyone.

 

3 hours ago, KymmieL said:

Nice warm shower this AM. will be changing the patch later this afternoon. Still a happy girl that I finally got it.

It warms my heart that you reached this milestone on your journey! ❤️ 

 

2 hours ago, Jamie68 said:

I might have found some place to get electrolysis done. Karen's in Woodridge Illinois. Their website even says transgender friendly. Not open till tomorrow. I can't wait to call. Will be going to Univ. of Iowa clinic with wife for checkup for a couple days. No visitors allowed with patients. Will have plenty of time to make calls. Please cross your fingers for me girls.

I'm cheering for you, Jamie!

 

So I had to make an exception to my "no shopping before a blizzard" rule due to being nearly out of coffee. It would have been a catastrophe tomorrow morning not to have any. But it was worth it. The woman who rang me up noticed my newly-painted nails and complimented me on the color! I wasn't really trying for girl mode either. I will now be giddy with joy for the next four hours. ?

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Chloe Cozee]

@Jamie68 Good luck girl!

[Jamie68]

1 hour ago, Chloe Cozee said:

@Jamie68 Good luck girl!

Thanks.

[Jamie68]

1 hour ago, Audrey said:

I've done this before with my black bean chili recipe. Confirmed carnivores were sure I'd put meat in it, but they know I've been vegetarian for years so I wasn't fooling anyone.

 

It warms my heart that you reached this milestone on your journey! ❤️ 

 

I'm cheering for you, Jamie!

 

So I had to make an exception to my "no shopping before a blizzard" rule due to being nearly out of coffee. It would have been a catastrophe tomorrow morning not to have any. But it was worth it. The woman who rang me up noticed my newly-painted nails and complimented me on the color! I wasn't really trying for girl mode either. I will now be giddy with joy for the next four hours. ?

 

Love,

~Audrey.

Awesome!

[Ivy]

Saw a few flakes last night, but it didn't last and turned to rain.   Just gloomy cold rain today.

When I immigrated to the south, many years ago, I was amused at the pre-snow panic buying.  But I do appreciate the post-snow laidback fun time, when everything shuts down.

[Heather Nicole]

7 hours ago, ElizabethStar said:

I must be passing way more than I think as many of the guys seemed to completely ignore my existence.

 

I really must be a woman! I've always had a tendancy to go undetected, even despite my height! Sometimes I think I must've been a kunoichi (female ninja) in a past life ?

 

Speaking of stealth, I can confirm the stealth approach would indeed be the most effective one in introducing me to a meatless or vegan dish. Funny thing is, even for people who have a habitual reaction to the mention of meatless or vegan, there's still plenty of vegan-friendly dishes many of them wouldn't even think to second guess: Chips & salsa, guacamole, pb&j's, falaffel, hummus...

 

On another note, for all the snow going around today, I'm surprised we only got a little here. Living just south of Lake Erie (lake effect territory), normally if there's snow to be had, we get dumped on.

 

Now if you will all excuse me, I do believe it's Sunday newspaper comics time...

[Elizabeth Star]

1 hour ago, Heather Nicole said:

there's still plenty of vegan-friendly dishes many of them wouldn't even think to second guess: Chips & salsa, guacamole, pb&j's, falaffel, hummus...

Don't forget about the Oreos.

 

I survived clearing the driveway. I was able to run all the old gas out of my snowblower so it is at least usable. It won't run unless it's on full choke so it does need the carb adjusted. I tried to look into it but there's all these stupid covers on everything. The manual says to take it to a shop for repairs. That's not happening. I have never been defeated by a small engine and this is no exception.

[Chloe Cozee]

I cleared our driveway twice. My niece is having a virtual baby shower, we have a few relatives over to watch it at our house. I made some snacks and I am serving them! I love this role!

 

@ElizabethStar I mix a little Sea Foam in gas of our gas container. Never had a problem with old gas. 

[Bri2020]

17 hours ago, Mmindy said:

That's great Jandi! 

 

I love my Dutch Ovens, I have three with legs for cooking over campfires, and one flat bottom for cooking on the stovetop, or in the oven at home.

 

You can cook some great Pies and Cakes too. 

 

Hugs,

 

Mindy???

I don't have a dutch oven but love cast iron. I have a 5 gallon Jambalaya pot I rigged to go over my fire pit.  I also have very large freezer for meal prep/leftovers.  I make a vegan stew that no one would know is vegan,

2lbs Chick of the woods mushrooms chopped into chunks

1lb white beans

1 can pumpkin sauce/puree

2 big cans peeled tomatoes

a bunch of chopped carrots, celery, green peppers, onions/leaks/wild ramps

some hot peppers, whole

garlic, black pepper, paprika, salt,cummin

1 gallon wild mushroom stock

Throw it all together and slow cook for a few hours

 

I forage for mushrooms so this is my go to for vegan dish (or chicken of the woods chili).  Once again, big freezer.  We forage about 5-100lbs of mushrooms a year and dehydrate, freeze them. My wife makes a bunch of stock from it as well.

If we make it with meat we tend to use venison (pictured) That's my wife and dog patiently waiting for dinner

 

 

[Bri2020]

1 hour ago, Bri2020 said:

 

2lbs Chick of the woods mushrooms chopped into chunks

1lb white beans

1 can pumpkin sauce/puree

2 big cans peeled tomatoes

a bunch of chopped carrots, celery, green peppers, onions/leaks/wild ramps

some hot peppers, whole

garlic, black pepper, paprika, salt,cummin

1 gallon wild mushroom stock

Throw it all together and slow cook for a few hours

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot- Potatoes of course

[Chloe Cozee]

@Bri2020 Wow! that looks wonderful! Now I am hungry!

[Audrey]

Oreos are vegan? ? I had no idea.

 

@Bri2020 That's an impressive setup and enough stew to feed a small army. Looks delicious and colorful! I miss being able to do stuff like that because I'm living the NYC apartment life. The "garden" is a sun-facing windowsill and a tiny area on the fire escape (but don't tell anyone!), and the "yard" is a concrete area about fifteen by fifty feet shared with a few raised planter boxes. There's also a communal propane grill we share in the warmer months, but for any real greenery I have to go into the park. One of the things I learned living by myself for many years was how to portion recipes for one person so that I wasn't eating the same thing for four days in a row. Some stuff it works well, but with baking, changing the proportions can lead to some unintended effects and interesting questions like how to measure half an egg.

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Jamie68]

3 hours ago, ElizabethStar said:

Don't forget about the Oreos.

 

I survived clearing the driveway. I was able to run all the old gas out of my snowblower so it is at least usable. It won't run unless it's on full choke so it does need the carb adjusted. I tried to look into it but there's all these stupid covers on everything. The manual says to take it to a shop for repairs. That's not happening. I have never been defeated by a small engine and this is no exception.

Try running some sea foam through it, or some carb cleaner. that might help

[Ivy]

2 hours ago, Audrey said:

One of the things I learned living by myself for many years was how to portion recipes for one person so that I wasn't eating the same thing for four days in a row.

Yeah.  I have a problem with this.

[Jamie68]

3 hours ago, Bri2020 said:

I don't have a dutch oven but love cast iron. I have a 5 gallon Jambalaya pot I rigged to go over my fire pit.  I also have very large freezer for meal prep/leftovers.  I make a vegan stew that no one would know is vegan,

2lbs Chick of the woods mushrooms chopped into chunks

1lb white beans

1 can pumpkin sauce/puree

2 big cans peeled tomatoes

a bunch of chopped carrots, celery, green peppers, onions/leaks/wild ramps

some hot peppers, whole

garlic, black pepper, paprika, salt,cummin

1 gallon wild mushroom stock

Throw it all together and slow cook for a few hours

 

I forage for mushrooms so this is my go to for vegan dish (or chicken of the woods chili).  Once again, big freezer.  We forage about 5-100lbs of mushrooms a year and dehydrate, freeze them. My wife makes a bunch of stock from it as well.

If we make it with meat we tend to use venison (pictured) That's my wife and dog patiently waiting for dinner

 

 

Wow, that looks good. Great for a cold day.

[Willow]

Here I am Lord

Is it I Lord

I here you calling in the night.

I will go Lord

If you lead me

I will hold your people in my heart.

 

This is the refrain from a hymn that has greatly affected me and my life.  This time last year God told me I was to be involved in helping people who are transgender just like me.  The one thing he didn’t say to me was how.  So I have been doing my best to help others here, and in my group.  But I believe there is more for me.  
 

For anyone who may be skeptical, please know that God does talk to people.  Maybe not everyone.  But there have been 4, that’s right FOUR times that he has spoken to me and each time what he told me turned out to be true.

Love

 

Willow

[KymmieL]

I HATE mother nature, she is such a B witch. SO this morning. Beautiful blue sky not a cloud in sight. The truck is showing 10 frecking degrees. It did warm up to 40 when I went home at 2pm.

 

Kymmie

[Susan R]

4 hours ago, Willow said:

please know that God does talk to people.

I believe this too Willow. It’s good to see Him working in so many lives here. 

[Emily michelle]

Good morning everyone! Another Monday I actually don’t have to be at work till 6am today. Even though I still got up at 315 because I forgot to change my alarm oh well. I decided to push the envelope a little more today I’m wearing women’s wranglers and I straightened my hair. So we will see if any comments are made. Hr is the only person that knows what my plans are as of right now. I have my annual msha refresher today so I decided to look a little more decent since I won’t have to get dirty or wear a hard hat. Hope everyone has a good Monday.

[Elizabeth Star]

Good morning.?

 

That is all.

[CD Rachel]

Good morning all,

 

Snowing like crazy right now. We are predicted to get between 16 to 24 inches. Guess I will have to get out with the snow blower this morning and knock some of the snow off before it gets too deep.

 

Rachel

[Willow]

Good morning everyone 

 

I have decided to take a break.  Anyone who needs to talk to me, use the messaging and I promise I will get back to you.  
 

@KymmieLyou know how to reach me.

 

I’m still me, in fact my wife and I agreed that I would be full time this week.  Of course that’s just around the house.  My foot and Covid concerns prevent me from going out.

 

Anyway, I’m signing out.  I get notifications of PMs.

 

I will be back, just not as frequently.

 

love you all.  You are still my friends.

 

Willow

[CD Rachel]

We will miss you @Willow I am saddened by your unexpected departure. Please keep in touch.

 

Rachel

[Audrey]

Good morning everyone on this snowy Monday here in NYC. We've had about 4 inches so far in my neighborhood, with the heaviest to come during the day today. It's beautiful to look at from the windows, coffee in hand. Really glad to be working remotely and not have to deal with traveling! Everyone who has to be outside in this, I hope you stay safe and warm. I would have had an electrolysis appointment today so it's just as well that I've postponed it for two weeks to allow my face to heal more, which it is thankfully.

 

Feeling a little introspective this morning. I had a long conversation with my mother in Oregon late last night. She doesn't know that I'm transgender and transitioning yet so it's been awkward to keep dancing around the major events in my life of the last several months. I feel bad that I'm avoiding it especially because I'm growing increasingly sure she'll be accepting. But it's all because I don't want to add the emotional weight of that to her already intense emotions around my stepfather, who's on hospice. His declining health has been so very hard on her, especially now during the pandemic when it's harder to visit him and connect with other people for support. It's times like this I wish i didn't live all the way across the country.

 

@Emily michelle I hope everything goes well with your colleagues today if they notice your style changes! Glad that HR has your back.

 

Hoping for a mostly quiet workday today. Take care all!

 

Love,

~Audrey.